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The Impact and Mechanisms of LncRNA TCONS_00483150 on the Function of Self-Reactive B Cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Submitted:

23 June 2025

Posted:

24 June 2025

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Abstract
Background: Excessive proliferation and activation of B cells, resulting in the production of various autoantibodies, is a crucial link and significant feature of the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Accumulating evidence indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a significant role in SLE. TCONS_00483150 is reported as a novel diagnostic biomarker that recently reported as a potential for SLE. However, the detailed functions and mechanisms are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TCONS_00483150 on B cell function and SLE progression. Methods: B cells were administrated with TCONS_00483150 overexpression and JAK activator. The activation of B cells was measured by flow cytometry. The production of IgG and IgM antibodies was measured by ELISA assay. The protein expression was assessed by western blot. Cell viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis were measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry. Results: Overexpression of TCONS_00483150 led to deceased portion of CD19+CD138+ B cells and suppressed the expression of BAFF and APRIL. The production of IgG and IgM was significantly suppressed by TCONS_00483150 overexpression. TCONS_00483150 suppressed the viability and cell portion in S phase, as well as promoted the apoptosis of B cells. Overexpression of TCONS_00483150 suppressed the phosphorylation of the JAK and STAT3 protein. Treatment with STAT3 activator notably increased the viability of B cells and suppressed cell apoptosis, whereas overexpression of TCONS_00483150 repressed these effects. Conclusion: TCONS_00483150 overexpression could suppress the proliferation and activation of B cells, potentially via suppressing the activation of JAK/STAT3.
Keywords: 
Systemic lupus erythematosus
;  
long noncoding RNA
;  
B cell
;  
JAK/STAT3
Subject: 
Medicine and Pharmacology  -   Oncology and Oncogenics

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain [1]. Characterized by periods of illness (flares) and remission, SLE is caused by a dysfunction in the immune system, where it mistakenly attacks healthy tissues [2]. This leads to widespread inflammation and tissue damage [1]. Symptoms of SLE can range widely, from mild to severe, and can include fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, fever, and organ damage [3]. Treatment often involves medications to suppress the immune system, such as corticosteroids, antimalarial drugs, immunosuppressive agents, and biologics, and it requires careful management to control symptoms and reduce the risk of flares [4].
B cells play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of SLE, contributing to the disease through various mechanisms [5,6]. In SLE, B cells are involved in the production of autoantibodies, antigen presentation, and immune regulation [7,8]. Upon activation, B cells secret high affinity antibodies such as IgG to boost systemic immune response [9]. Therapy targeting B cells in SLE has shown promise, with belimumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets BAFF, being the first FDA-approved treatment for SLE [10,11]. However, the overall clinical efficacy of B cell depletion has been modest, indicating the complexity of B cell roles in SLE [12,13,14]. Therefore, exploring the underlying mechanisms that involved in B cell activation and SLE progression is an urgent issue.
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a significant role in SLE, contributing to the disease's pathogenesis through various mechanisms [15,16]. LncRNAs are involved in immune response regulation and immune cell development, and their aberrant expression is associated with the dysregulation of these processes in SLE [17,18]. In SLE, several lncRNAs such as GAS5, NEAT1, TUG1, SNHG16, and linc0597 have been found to be dysregulated and may serve as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets [19,20]. These lncRNAs may interact with proteins, DNA, and even other RNAs, influencing the immune response and the development of autoimmune diseases [21,22]. The mechanisms by which lncRNAs contribute to SLE involve their ability to modulate gene expression at the epigenetic level, affecting DNA methylation and histone modifications, regulating the expression of genes involved in immune function, thereby influencing the disease's progression [23].
TCONS_00483150 is reported as a novel diagnostic biomarker that recently reported as a potential for SLE, distinguishing patients with SLE from healthy controls and those with rheumatoid arthritis and patients with active/stable SLE from healthy controls. [24]. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of a lncRNA TCONS_00483150 on the function of self-reactive B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus and explored the potential regulatory mechanisms.

Materials and Methods

B Cell Isolation

B cells were purified from spleens of C57B6/L mice by using a B-cell isolation kit (Miltenyi Biotec GmbH) according to manufacturer’s protocol.

Cell Transfection

The lncRNA overexpression vectors were synthesized by GenePharma (Shanghai, China). B cells were transfected with the overexpression vectors and negative conrtol using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) according to the manufacturer's protocol. After transfection for 24 h, cells were collected for subsequent experiments.

B Cell Activation Analysis

After lncRNA transfection and stimulation with STAT activator (Colivelin, MCE, USA) for 24 h. B cells were collected and centrifuged for 5 min at 1,000 × g at 4°C; the cell pellet was resuspended in PBS at a cell density of 1×106 cells/ml, labeled with PE-conjugated anti-CD19 and FITC-conjugated anti-CD138 antibody (Biolegend, CHina) for analysis of CD19+CD138+ B cells using a Flow Cytometer (BD Biosciences, USA).

Western Blot

Cells were collected and lysed with RIPA lysis buffer containing protease and phosphorylase (Thermo, USA). The total protein was extracted after centrifuge. The concentration of cell lysates was identified using the BCA protein Quantification kit (Beyotime, China). Then an equal amount of proteins was separated by electrophoresis, transferred to PVDF membrane (Millipore, MA, USA), and blocked with 5% skim milk. The protein bands were incubated with primary antibodies against Blipm-1, JAK, STAT3, Bcl-2, BAX, BAFF, APRIL, and β-actin overnight at 4°C. Next, the protein bands were incubated with the corresponding anti-mouse or anti-rabbit secondary antibody. The images of indicated protein bands were visualized using ECL reagent (Millipore, Germany).

qPCR

Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using Trizol Reagent (TaKaRa, Japan). Following the addition of chloroform and centrifugation, isopropyl alcohol (400 μL) was introduced into a new enzyme-free EP tube. The upper layer of RNA was carefully transferred post-centrifugation. Reverse transcription of RNA to complementary DNA (cDNA) was conducted using the Thermo Scientific RevertAid RT kit (Thermo Scientific, USA). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was carried out with TB Green Premix Ex Taq II (Tli RNaseH Plus, TaKaRa, Japan) and analyzed on a LightCycler 96 PCR instrument (Roche, Tusem, China). U6 or GAPDH served as endogenous controls, and the relative expression levels of miRNAs or mRNAs were determined using the 2−ΔΔCt method.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

After indicated treatment, B cells were collected by centrifugation at 12,000 × g for 10 minutes at 4°C. B cell supernatants were then assessed for IgG and IgM levels using respective ELISA kits from Abcam (USA), following the provided instructions. Each experiment was conducted three times to ensure reliability. Optical density measurements at 450 nm were taken using an automated ELISA reader.

CCK-8

Cell viability was measured by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay kit (Beyotime, China). In brief, cells were seeded into 96-well plates and incubated for 24 h, then CCK-8 reagent was added into each well and incubated for another 2 h. The optical density value at 450 nm was then measured using the microplate reader (Thermo, USA).

Cell Apoptosis and Cell Cycle

Cell apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis kit (Beyotime, China) and flow cytometry. After indicated treatment, B cells were collected after centrifuge and incubated with staining buffer that added with Annexin V-FITC and PI in dark for 30 min. B cells were analyzed using Flow Cytometer (BD Biosciences, USA). For cell cycle analysis, the cells were stained with PI regent that in dark for 30 min and analyzed using the Flow Cytometer (BD Biosciences, USA).

Statistics

Analysis was conducted with GraphPad Prism Version 8.0, presenting results as mean ± standard deviation. The Student's t-test was applied for pairwise comparisons, and one-way ANOVA was used for multiple group comparisons. Significance was determined at a P value <0.05.

Results

TCONS_00483150 Regulates B Cell Phenotype

We first analyzed the impact of TCONS_00483150 on B cell functions via ectopic expression of TCONS_00483150. The results from qPCR verified the successful expression of TCONS_00483150 in B cells (Figure 1A). Overexpression of TCONS_00483150 led to deceased portion of CD19+CD138+ B cells (Figure 1B) and suppressed the expression of BAFF and APRIL (Figure 1C). Moreover, the production of IgG and IgM was significantly suppressed by TCONS_00483150 overexpression (Figure 1D). These data indicated that TCONS_00483150 repressed the function of B cells.

TCONS_00483150 Regulates B Cell Functions

The results from CCK-8 assay indicated that TCONS_00483150 suppressed the viability of B cells (Figure 2A). TCONS_00483150 overexpression also caused a notable elevation of B cell apoptosis (Figure 2B). Moreover, the assessment of cell cycle indicated that TCONS_00483150 led to decreased cell portion in S phase, suggesting the repressed cell cycle progression (Figure 2C). The protein level of Blipm-1 was also downregulated by TCONS_00483150 (Figure 2D).

TCONS_00483150 Regulates JSK/STAT3 Signaling Pathway in B Cell

Next, we analyzed the potential downstream regulatory mechanisms underlying the TCONS_00483150-regulated B cell behaviors. Overexpression of TCONS_00483150 suppressed the phosphorylation of the JAK and STAT3 protein, but not altered the level of total protein (Figure 3A). Besides, TCONS_00483150 downregulated the level of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 and upregulated the expression of pro-apoptotic BAX (Figure 3B).

TCONS_00483150 Regulates B Cell Function Through the JAK/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

To investigate whether TCONS_00483150 modulated the functions of B cells via regulating JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway, we adopted the STST3 activator for cell treatment. Treatment with STAT3 activator notably increased the viability of B cells and suppressed cell apoptosis, whereas overexpression of TCONS_00483150 repressed these effects (Figure 4A,B). Moreover, overexpression of TCONS_00483150 abolished the elevated Blipm-1 (Figure 4C) and production of IgM and IgG (Figure 4D,F) that activated by STAT3 activator.

Discussion

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe autoimmune disease characterized by dysregulated B cell functions, which contribute to the production of numerous autoantibodies [25]. The aberrant expression of non-coding RNAs, particularly long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), has been implicated in SLE pathogenesis [26]. Recent studies have revealed substantial differences in the expression of autoimmune-associated lncRNAs between SLE patients and healthy individuals, offering valuable insights into disease mechanisms and potential biomarkers for diagnostic and therapeutic advancements [15,27]. Investigations into the mechanisms by which specific lncRNAs regulate B lymphocyte development in SLE are ongoing, shedding light on the complex interplay of genetic and molecular factors in this disease process. for example, lncRNA MALAT-1 is reported to be associated with the regulation of IL-21 levels and the SIRT1 signaling pathway, which are involved in the inflammatory response and oxidative stress in SLE [28]. The expression of lncRNA GAS5 is linked to the modulation of inflammatory cytokines, and it may act as a protective factor by targeting miR-21 and PTEN, affecting the development of SLE [19]. Besides, the lncRNA NEAT1 expression was abnormally increased in SLE patients and predominantly expressed in human monocytes. NEAT1 participates in TLR4-mediated inflammatory process through affecting the activation of the late MAPK signaling pathway [29].
LncRNA TCONS_00483150 is a long non-coding RNA that has been identified in the context of SLE. The influence of TCONS_00483150 on the function of these self-reactive B cells and the underlying mechanisms is a topic of ongoing research. It is reported that TCONS_00483150 is a potential diagnostic biomarker of SLE [24]. However, the specific mechanisms by which TCONS_00483150 affects self-reactive B cells in SLE are not yet fully understood and likely involve complex interactions with other genetic and epigenetic factors. In current study, we performed overexpression of TCONS_00483150 in B cells and analyzed the B cell activation and viability. The results indicated that TCONS_00483150 overexpression reduced the portion of CD19+/CD138+ B cells, along with decreased production of IgG and IgM and expression of BAFF. Meanwhile, TCONS_00483150 overexpression also repressed B cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. The analysis of signaling pathways revealed repressed activation of JAK/STAT3 signaling upon TCONS_00483150 overexpression. Activation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, particularly leading to the phosphorylation of STAT3, is a key event in the immune response, with STAT3 being an essential downstream transcription factor [30]. In B cells, STAT3 phosphorylation is crucial for the formation of germinal centers (GCs) and the accumulation of plasma cells, as observed in MRLlpr/lpr lupus mice [31,32]. Notably, MRLlpr/lpr mice with a targeted knockout of STAT3 in B cells show a significant reduction in spontaneous GC formation and plasma cell generation [33]. Our findings suggested that activation of JAK using specific activator could stimulate the viability and activation of B cells, which was repressed by TCONS_00483150.

Conclusion

In current study, we demonstrated that TCONS_00483150 overexpression could suppress the proliferation and activation of B cells, potentially via suppressing the activation of JAK/STAT3. Our study uncovered a novel mechanism underlying the dysfunction of B cells in SLE, offering a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease.

Funding

This study was supported by the Ningbo Natural Science Foundation, No. 2022J257.

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Figure 1. TCONS_00483150 regulates B cell phenotype. B cells were transfected with TCONS_00483150 overexpression vectors. (A) The RNA level of TCONS_00483150 in B cells was measured by qPCR. (B) The CD19 and CD138 expression in B cells was detected by flow cytometry. (C) The protein levels of BAFF and APRIL was assessed by western blot assay. (D) The production of IgG and IgM was measured by ELSIA assay. *p<0.05, ***p<0.0001.
Figure 1. TCONS_00483150 regulates B cell phenotype. B cells were transfected with TCONS_00483150 overexpression vectors. (A) The RNA level of TCONS_00483150 in B cells was measured by qPCR. (B) The CD19 and CD138 expression in B cells was detected by flow cytometry. (C) The protein levels of BAFF and APRIL was assessed by western blot assay. (D) The production of IgG and IgM was measured by ELSIA assay. *p<0.05, ***p<0.0001.
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Figure 2. TCONS_00483150 regulates B cell functions. (A) Celle viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. (B) Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. (C) Cell cycle determined by flow cytometry. (D) Protein level of Blipm-1 detected by western blot. ***p<0.0001.
Figure 2. TCONS_00483150 regulates B cell functions. (A) Celle viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. (B) Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. (C) Cell cycle determined by flow cytometry. (D) Protein level of Blipm-1 detected by western blot. ***p<0.0001.
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Figure 3. TCONS_00483150 regulates JSK/STAT3 signaling pathway in B cell. Protein levels of (A) STAT3 and JAK phosphorylation and (B) apoptosis regulatory factors in B cells detected by western blot.
Figure 3. TCONS_00483150 regulates JSK/STAT3 signaling pathway in B cell. Protein levels of (A) STAT3 and JAK phosphorylation and (B) apoptosis regulatory factors in B cells detected by western blot.
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Figure 4. TCONS_00483150 regulates B cell function through the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway. B cells were treated with STAT3 activator and transfected with TCONS_00483150 overexpression vectors. (A) Celle viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. (B) Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. (C) Cell cycle determined by flow cytometry. (D) Protein level of Blipm-1 detected by western blot. ***p<0.0001, ###p<0.0001.
Figure 4. TCONS_00483150 regulates B cell function through the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway. B cells were treated with STAT3 activator and transfected with TCONS_00483150 overexpression vectors. (A) Celle viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. (B) Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. (C) Cell cycle determined by flow cytometry. (D) Protein level of Blipm-1 detected by western blot. ***p<0.0001, ###p<0.0001.
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